Driving through the ages - Driving Instructor - How age and life stage impacts our driver behaviour - Driving Instructors Association
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Driving
Instructor
THE VOICE OF THE PROFESSIONAL
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Driving
through
the ages
How age and life
stage impacts our
driver behaviour
ISSUE SEVEN 2016
p01_Instructor_Issue07.indd 1 10/08/2016 1:45 pm
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p02_03_Instructor_Issue07.indd 1 10/08/2016 2:28 pm
Driving
Instructor
The official monthly magazine of the
WELCOME
Driving Instructors Association
HEN I HIT the milestone age of 50 last year, lots of people asked me how it
W
felt. I repeatedly rolled out one of two cliches: I either said “Age is nothing but
a number” or “You’re as young as you feel – and I feel 27.”
EDITOR
Craig Thomas Neither is exactly imaginative, but whatever age you are, you feel like, well,
editor@driving.org you. Some body parts might not quite work as well as they used to, but in my
head, I have pretty much the same attitudes and opinions I had in my twenties.
DESIGN
Matt Russell Apart from one important difference, that is. After spending the last 11
design@driving.org years writing about cars and motoring, my approach to driving has changed considerably. I’m
older, more experienced and – hopefully – wiser. And as I spend a lot of time testing cars in
ADVERTISING
020 8686 8010
the UK and abroad, I could also justifiably describe myself as an occupational driver, with the
advertising@driving.org additional experience that function brings with it.
I also have a father who is still driving (carefully, differently, but safely) at the age of 83 and a
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
daughter who will apply for a provisional licence in less than 18 months – and who is keen to
Carly Brookfield
learn to drive – so questions about driving and age are regularly on my mind.
CHAIR So it’s been fascinating editing this particular issue of Driving Instructor, which focuses on
Dean Mayer driving and age. Our contributors have looked at the different stages of life, how they affect
how we drive and how driver trainers can take advantage of those changes in the services they
offer their clients.
Driving Instructor is published monthly by DIA (Int.) Ltd
We also cover the big story of the month – the DVSA’s anouncement of a consultation on
Copyright © DIA (Int.) Ltd 2016
changes to the driving test. Changes are long overdue but, as Carly points out on page 20, it’s
Printed by Warners Midlands plc
not the be-all and end-all of the changes we’d all like to see to the learning-to-drive process.
The views contained may not be the views of the publishers.
Publication of an advertisement does not imply approval for But, as it’s a consultation, you need to make your voice heard – with all the maturity and
the goods or services offered. Reproduction by any means, years of experience you can deploy as coaches and instructors.
electronically or otherwise, in whole or part, of any material
appearing in this magazine is forbidden without the express
prior permission of the publishers. Craig Thomas
Meet the DIA Team
Olivia Baldock-Ward Karen Bransgrove
Training manager Helpdesk advisor
olivia@driving.org karen@driving.org
Olivia has been a franchisee and a self-employed Karen is an experienced driving instructor and
ADI. She knows how tough it is out there here to help with your training queries
Carly Brookfield Matt Rathbone
Chief executive Membership services administrator
carly@driving.org mattrathbone@driving.org
Carly oversees the daily work of the Matt deals with membership enquiries and
Driving Instructors Association the DIA shop
Ken Mackenzie Robert Thompson
Administration manager Membership services administrator
ken@driving.org robert@driving.org
Ken is charged with making sure everything Robert deals with membership enquiries and
runs smoothly the DIA shop
Matt Russell Billy Mahoney
Design manager Marketing manager
matt@driving.org billy@driving.org
Magazines, posters, websites – there’s nothing Billy is our marketing manager who works
that our design guru can’t turn his hand to tirelessly to ensure member needs are met
DIA MEMBERSHIP DRIVING INSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION
Call 020 8686 8010 | help@driving.org | driving.org Unit 11, Gleneagles Court, Brighton Road, Crawley RH10 6AD
Driving Instructor
03
p02_03_Instructor_Issue07.indd 2 10/08/2016 2:28 pm
INSTRUCTOR
CONTENTS
MEMBER OF
06 THE MONTH
TAX GUEST
We speak to motorcycle instructor Chris Kirk
19 HELPDESK 22 COMMENT
Keith Halstead offers advice on how to get Helena Rings looks at the requirements for
about helping clients – including a 90-year-old the best tax deal on your home office and the licence and eyesight checks when undertaking
former Spitfire pilot effect of Brexit on taxes fleet training
READERS’ FEEDBACK CHIEF EXECUTIVE KING’S
07 AND HELPDESK 20 REPORT 23 COMMENT
Teaching learners for life or to pass the test, Carly Brookfield considers the proposed Edmund King OBE applies the five identified
plus advice of the use of satellite navigation in changes to the driving test – and whether they types of driver to the current state of courtesy
preparation for the test go far enough among Britain’s motorists
ADI INTENSIVE SILVER
08 NEWS 21 COMMENT 25 SERVICES
The latest news includes the DVSA’s Noel Gaughan makes the case for Carly Brookfield and Sue Vernon look at
announcement of a consultation on proposals recognising the industry’s brightest and best at how we can help drivers stay safe on the road
to change the driving test a new awards ceremony into their golden years
25
31
04 Driving Instructor
p04_05_Instructor_Issue07.indd 1 10/08/2016 1:48 pm
DRIVING FUMING
49 54
PARENT
31 POWER
Carly Brookfield considers the importance Cars on test this month include the all-electric The Auto Express team reports on MPs’
of marketing training to the parents of novice Nissan Leaf, Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, DS3 dissatisfaction with Volkswagen’s treatment
driver clients Convertible and Seat Leon FR of UK consumers in the wake of Dieselgate
DIAMOND DIA
50 COMMENT 64 SHOP
THE AGE OF
37 EXPERIENCE
Sandra Macdonald Ames explores Karen Bransgrove leaves the comfort zone A cornucopia of training aids and practical
the management of more mature, more of her training car behind to get back on to two products for driving instructors – including
experienced occpational drivers wheels for her CBT sat nav units
STAYING
52
DIA
43
FINAL
TRAINING
James Whalen looks at the development
IN SHAPE
Steve Garrod considers the virtues of
70 WORD
Dean Mayer considers how the Brexit vote
of satellite navigation and how it can be perfecting the skills we already possess will have an impact on small businesses, such
incorporated into driver training before trying to learn something new as those of driving instructors
37
43 49 driving
Driving Instructor 05
p04_05_Instructor_Issue07.indd 2 10/08/2016 1:48 pm
MEMBER OF
THE MONTH
Chris Kirk Why did you become a driving instructor?
I just loved motorcycling, my son wanted to gain his
Motorcycle instructor Chris turned his passion into a career and now draws pleasure licence so I took him to the closest school that also
from helping clients – including a 90-year-old former Spitfire pilot. had a very good reputation, namely Ipswich Rider
Training. Ros, the proprietor, was very approachable
Congratulations Chris and I felt that I had the experience, so I enquired
about becoming an instructor. Ros and her daughter
Claire took me under their wing and I haven’t looked
back since.
What do you get out of your profession?
When a complete novice wants to do a course, you
get them to the point of not just riding the bike to
get through the CBT, but to the point of being test-
ready. I get a fantastic sense of achievement for
getting the person to that standard, so they pass the
full test with flying colours
What differences were there between when
you started and now?
The main differences from when I first started are the
changes imposed by the EU on the new test format.
This means candidates have to do two parts to the
test: the Mod 1 off-road element and the Mod 2
road assessment. Also, the bikes have changed, so
they’re now lighter and fitted with ABS
What obstacles have you faced and how did
you get over them?
We have to deal with all walks of life, so it’s having
the knowledge on how to deal with the client and
adjusting the teaching methods to suit their needs.
What is your fondest memory of being a
trainer?
I had a 90-year-old gentleman who needed a CBT
just to commute from home to the shops. After
getting into a discussion with him, he told me that
he had fought in the Second World War as a Spitfire
fighter pilot and had some fantastic stories. I had to
reel him in in the end – otherwise we would have
taken a week to get through his CBT.
What advice would you give trainers starting
out?
Take time to learn the trade and skills; be able to
deal with anyone: and really want to do the job.
Would you like to be our member of the month?
Contact us at feedback@driving.org and tell us why you think you should be nominated.
06 Driving Instructor
p06_07_Instructor_Issue07.indd 1 10/08/2016 2:29 pm
HELPDESK HAVE A QUESTION
& FEEDBACK OR COMMENT?
Call the ADI helpdesk Mon to Fri
9am–5pm or send your questions
and comments to Unit 11, Gleneagles
Court, Brighton Road, Crawley RH10
6AD or help@driving.org
’VE BEEN GETTING hot under the
collar recently while reading various
020 8686 8010
I magazines, and forum articles on
Facebook and other sites, where
instructors have “discussions”, shall
we say, about how best to teach
learners.
This sort of question is the topic of
discussion:
“Do we teach learners to pass the driving test, or HAVE TAKEN A few calls this week regarding
drive safely for life?” the new driving test trials and, in particular,
What a stupid question. Can people please stop
distinguishing between these two things. They are one
and the same thing.
Never again will a learner driver have to pass a driving
I queries regarding the satellite navigation on
test. The introduction of satellite navigation is
designed to allow examiners to better assess
how pupils plan, manage and drive a journey
test. Just like they will normally never again have to sit independently. This is anticipated to replace
a maths GCSE. We are taught algebra in our school the traditional approach of pupils being
lessons which teaches logic and reasoning, sit our directed along a route by the examiner.
maths GCSE showing that we can use algebra, then
usually never use it again for the rest of our lives.
Here is the key difference. In never using algebra
Q
again, we are most likely not risking our own life or Do we need to provide and take our own sat
anyone elses by not using it. But we have been left with nav to test?
the skills of using logic and reason that could be applied
A
to other life skills. The simple answer is no: the examiners will bring their
It is therefore important that we teach our learner the own device for each test candidate. Preset routes will
format of the whole test, and show them some of the be tried and tested and pre-programmed by the DVSA
more difficult aspects of the routes that may be taken and the examiner will be responsible for securing and
in the test. In teaching our learners some of these “test setting up the system in the car before a test states.
routes” (which in my area of Crawley include some of
the most challenging roundabouts in the country) we
Q
are, in fact, teaching them to drive safely for life. We’re Should I buy a sat nav now for practice with my
never going to say “drive like this for the test, then do students on lessons?
whatever the hell you want once you’ve passed!”
A
To drive all the “test routes” in Crawley, I have I can only speak from personal experience, in so
calculated, would take at least 1,012 hours in lessons, much as I think any independent practice in a safe
– and that’s only the roads that I have observed being environment with a professional driver trainer has to
taken in the tests over the past one and a half years (the be good experience. Why wait for the new test to start
total time I have been a driving instructor). Each time I when we can be helping our students to deal with real
sit in on a test, we seem to take a new road I have never life situations now?
seen before, so that total time is ever-expanding.
Of course, we need to be absolutely clear to our
pupils, that the methods we are teaching in order to
pass the test are the safest possible methods to drive
safely for life, and that once the test is passed, they
should continue driving in exactly the same way.
So, if someone tells me not to drive just the test
routes one more time, I might just lose the plot. If I
Q
don’t drive test routes, I basically wouldn’t be able to I need my up to date PL/PI documents for the
allow my pupils drive in Crawley or the surrounding company I am working for. How do I access
villages whatsoever. So they would have to drive around these?
Horsham, which frankly is a world away from the busy,
A
You can access them in the DIA members’ area: go to
threatening, downright dangerous roads of Crawley.
driving.org and click on members’ area on the left and
Right, I think I’ve made my point. Rant over.
then log in. Click on ‘My DIA’ where you will be able to
see the policy documents.
Rachel Talbot
If you require a personalised copy then simply send
us an email to help@driving.org and we will send
them to you.
Driving Instructor 07
p06_07_Instructor_Issue07.indd 2 10/08/2016 2:29 pm
DIA welcomes public
consultation on changes
to the driving test
“Making sure the test better assesses a
driver’s ability to drive safely and independently
is part of our strategy to help every driver
through a lifetime of safe driving”
The introduction of satellite navigation
is designed to allow examiners to better
assess how pupils plan, manage and drive a
journey independently. This would replace the
traditional approach of pupils following road
signs or being directed along a route by the
examiner in the passenger seat – something
that is unreflective of how pupils will drive once
they are licenced drivers. This exercise is also
useful in negating the tendency of those pupils
and trainers who merely ‘cram’ a set number of
known ‘test’ routes in order to pass, when in real
life new licencees will need to be able drive a
combination of familiar and unfamiliar routes.
The use of sat nav also has an additional benefit
as it allows the assessment of how candidates
deal with elements of distraction that modern
motoring technology adds to the drive. To
• Planned changes include introduction the introduction of satellite navigation and the
further understand a candidate’s ability to
of Satellite Navigation on tests to enable replacement of traditional manoeuvres. The
manage multiple distractions on the move, they
better assessment of candidate’s ability main changes are:
will also be asked to perform a ‘show me, tell
to drive independently • An increase in the ‘independent driving’
me’ task on the go – rather than in a stationary
• Replacement of traditionally tested part of the test from 10 to 20 minutes. position, normally at the test centre or at the
manoeuvres, such as the ‘three-point • Asking candidates to follow directions side of the road, as has been historically been
turn’ with those deemed more risky in from a satellite navigation system as an the norm. This will involve the driver being asked
real life driving alternative to following road signs. to demonstrate how a key function of the car
The DVSA has launched a public consultation • Replacing current manoeuvres such as works, such as a de-mister or air conditioning,
on proposals to change the practical driving test ‘reverse around a corner’ with more real- on the move.
so it offers a better opportunity for pupils to be life scenarios (for example, driving into Developing the type of manoeuvres examined
assessed on their ability to drive independently and reversing out of a parking bay). on test includes the proposal to replace those
and safely once licenced. • Asking one of the two vehicle safety manoeuvres which have low risk implications
Over the last year, the DVSA has run an questions while the candidate is driving, (such as the ‘turn in road’) with those
in-depth trial to understand the impact of key (for example, asking candidates to use manoeuvres which carry more risk of damage or
changes to the current practical test. Over the rear heated screen). collision – such as pulling up on the right hand
1,000 ADIs registered on the trial and over side of the road and parking contra the traffic
4,500 learners took part in focus groups, Gareth Llewellyn, the DVSA’s chief flow, and bay parking.
interviews, surveys and practical assessments, executive, said: The new proposals attracted controversy
where candidates were split into a control and “Great Britain’s roads are among the safest in when first mooted as the trial launched in 2015.
trial groups to compare performance between the world. But there is scope to do more to keep Some commentators were nervous of the
the existing practical car test and a trial version. road users safe – particularly newly qualified element of introducing sat navs, in particular.
Key changes examined in the trial include drivers.
08 Driving Instructor
p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 1 10/08/2016 1:49 pm
The largest driver trainer news
resource adinews.co.uk/news
DVSA instructor search to show grades
DIA CEO Carly Brookfield commented:
We take on board that some trainers have
concerns about the proposed changes and The DVSA’s Find Your Nearest instructor search will now allow instructors to also publish their
we’ve fed those concerns into the consultation. grades, as changes are made to allow them to also include their Standards Check grade on their
However, the trial has shown that listing.
these changes have clear benefits for the The Motoring Services Strategy included a commitment to improve consumer information about
development of safer, independent drivers. learning to drive. Publishing an instructor’s grade, educating the public about what the grading
Candidates on the trial test felt more aware system means and how instructors are assessed, is part of a range of measures designed to help
of their responsibility and the challenges in pupils make more informed decisions about learning to drive.
managing real-life driving on real life roads More than 27,000 ADIs (67% of the register) have now chosen to participate in the online Find
as a result of the test (and also more aware Your Nearest instructor facility on gov.uk.
of the further preparation they would need to ADIs already have the option to opt in to the Find Your Nearest listing to display that they are
do to pass a new test of this nature). Expert committed to undertaking voluntary CPD and abiding to the ADI Code of Practice.
transport researchers, professional driver The DVSA will now implement a change that will allow individual ADIs to additionally opt in to
trainers, driver education and road safety publishing their grading through Find Your Nearest.
bodies like ourselves, examiners and pupils The move was publicised in a DVSA blog published at the end of July.
learning to drive right now have been heavily It should be noted that:
involved in the assessment of these proposed • The scheme is voluntary: instructors can choose to display their grade to help customers
changes and the feedback from all of those assess their quality and performance. Equally, you can opt not to display your grade.
involved has been positive. We fully welcome • Both the grade and score would be published under the Standards Check grading
this opportunity to evolve the driving test and structure.
are compelled by the evidence we have seen • When a user hovers over an ADI’s grading, they will see an explanation of the relevant
to date from the trial to recommend that these grading structure.
long overdue developments are made.’ • Any test failure would be shown as FAIL.
The DVSA has now received the findings • UNAVAILABLE would be displayed if a test doesn’t result in a recognisable grading (i.e. it
of the Transforming the Practical Driving doesn’t go ahead).
Test trial and the feedback on the changes
from both driver trainers and pupils has been
encouraging. As the trial has exceeded its
original targets for participating candidates
and passes in both the trial and control groups,
registration closed in late January for ADIs and
RAC calls for petrol price drop as
in early March for learner drivers. Successful
candidates and supervising drivers involved in
the trial have all been in agreement that the
oil prices fall
new test was a better preparation for post- The RAC have urged fuel retailers to “play fair with UK motorists”, after news that falling oil prices
test driving than the current test. The trial has are not being passed on to the pumps.
resulted in some clear indications, which have At around $43 a barrel, the wholesale oil price is now at its lowest level since early May. However,
identified that learners: pump prices have failed to reflect this, staying largely static during this time: the average is 112p
• Had a driving style that was less per litre, with some motorway services charging as much as 127p per litre.
‘decisive, over-confident and fast’, The RAC have warned forecourts across the country against taking advantage of the public’s
and was therefore safer and more expectation for fuel prices to rise following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
considered. The motoring body wants to see a 3p cut, taking the average price down to 109p per litre.
• Had greater confidence that they FairFuelUK has also accused British retailers of ‘opportunistic and abhorrent’ profiteering by not
could safely use a sat-nav and manage passing on their savings to UK motorists.
self directed journeys. Morrison responded by lowering the cost of diesel at its fuel stations by 1p a litre, its second
• Spent more time on fast dual price cut in a week. There are hopes that other supermarkets will follow suit, triggering a price war.
carriageways and other riskier roads RAC fuel spokesman, Simon Williams, said: “Retailers have a reasonable recent record of
with their ADI when learning. passing cost savings on, and we would like to think this is a blip rather than a new norm.
Over and above the proposed changes, “With millions of families currently away on holiday or soon to leave, combined with a boom in
the trial also represents a timely study staycations this year, a cut now would be widely welcomed and would give motorists confidence
of the driving test, and will provide that retailers are not keeping prices artificially high.
invaluable data to road safety practitioners “There is now a compelling case for an immediate price cut of 3p per litre off the price of both
across Great Britain to increase our petrol and diesel at forecourts.
understanding about learning to drive. “Another dip in the already low world oil price – driven by oversupply and concerns about the
global economic outlook – is putting a lot of downward pressure on wholesale prices, and we
To view the consultation and respond visit: believe retailers should now act by passing on the savings they are making to the UK’s motorists.”
https://www.gov.uk/government/ Fuel prices have raised substantially since last winter, when the average cost of unleaded
consultations/improving-the-car-driving-test reached a low of £1.01 per litre.
Driving Instructor 09
p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 2 10/08/2016 1:49 pm
Police issue warning to not
‘Pokemon and drive’
Police have issued a warning to not ‘Pokemon and drive’ to fans of the free downloadable Pokemon
Go app.
The app is hugely popular in the UK and police are worried about the distraction the game could
cause drivers.
Police in Richmond, south-west London, issued its pun-laden warning, telling gamers their police
station was not a “poke-stop” to catch and train Pokemon.
The force told ‘Pokemon trainers’: “Always be aware of your surroundings. That Pikachu will not
expect you to run in the road and Squirtle won’t want you to swim the Thames.
“Don’t be a Drowzee and walk around with your head in a daze – always be aware of people who
may be watching you to steal your phone or Charmander.
“Don’t Pokemon and drive. That egg won’t hatch if you’re driving. Remember it’s onyx-acceptable
and if you’re caught you risk a £100 fine and 3 points on your licence.”
Motorists delayed
Humour aside, there are genuine fears that the smartphone app could cause a rise in road
accidents nationwide. an average 8.9
Pete Williams, RAC spokesman, said: “The Pokemon Go revolution could take the illegal use of
hand-held mobile phones at the wheel to another level.
“It has to be ‘Pokemon no-Go when driving but it is just as important that pedestrians don’t get
seconds per mile
caught in the Pokemon mist and find themselves stepping into the path of danger.
“It is critical that drivers are not tempted to have the app running on their mobile phone when
on motorways
driving.”
A new report has discovered the scale
of hold-ups on motorways and A roads
in the UK, as Highways England misses
a number of targets, says Auto Express.
For every 100 miles, drivers were held
up for almost 15 minutes on England’s
motorways and A roads. This equates to
a delay of 8.9 seconds per mile.
Over the last year, 89.7bn miles were
driven on the Strategic Road Network,
according to the report by the Office for
Road and Rail. This number rises to 5bn
over the past four years.
Despite accounting for only 2% of
roads, the Strategic road Network carried
a third of our traffic. Average speeds also
slowed, with cars and trucks travelling
at 59.3mph compared to 61.3mph four
years ago.
These statistics were released as part
of Highways England’s annual report.
A new target to reduce delay time has
Warnings over mobile game Pokemon Go been introduced, but the report admitted
this would depend on traffic growth and
issued across the country would be difficult to achieve and maintain.
The report stated that Highways
England has made a ‘good start’
A man has jumped in front of traffic on a busy main road while his eyes were fixated on playing the concerning its management of a £15bn
Pokemon Go game. The incident took place on the A2 close to Holywood in north County Down. investment in the network by 2020-21.
A representative for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) encouraged people to be Highways England beat its targets for
careful with the app. They wrote on Facebook: “This morning we had a report of a male jumping out maintaining road surface quality among
in front of traffic on the A2, Holywood. others.
“Can you guess why? I don't care how rare the Pokemon is, it's not worth your life.” Road casualties dropped too, by 4.9%
The game has caused controversy in some parts of the world. In Guatemala, it is believed that from 2014 to 2015 leading the total KSI
a teenager has become the first person to be killed while playing. Police in Baltimore, USA, have number (killed or seriously injured) to drop
released footage of a motorist hitting a car while using the app. to 3.6%. However, the report stated that
A cyclist playing Pokemon Go in a road near West Kingsdown, Kent was almost run over. its focus was still required if Highways
Motorist Gemma Lovell stated that while she was driving down Ash Lane, a teenage cyclist was England were to meet their target of a
approaching her in the middle of the road, unaware of Lovell as he was playing the game. 40% KSI drop by 2020.
Lovell said: “I'm not opposed to the game: I've actually played on it myself. On the other hand, an important target
“I just couldn't believe that the boy was cycling straight for me and didn't even see me or look up Highways England failed to meet was the
until I beeped at him. I think parents need to give an extra warning to make sure their children stay user satisfaction rate, with only 89.3% of
safe and aware of their surroundings, especially with the summer holidays.” users claiming they were “fairly or very
The PSNI issued advice stating: “The internet and the virtual world can be a great place to learn, satisfied” with the network, falling 0.7%
and although games such as this can be fun, it is also important to be aware of the risks involved. short of the desired 90% target.
“The game may be virtual in some respects, but you are playing it in the real world too and it is
essential you keep safe.”
10 Driving Instructor
p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 3 10/08/2016 1:49 pmThink tank urges diesel cars
to be banned from London BUSINESS
A think tank has warned that diesel vehicles must be banned from
London if the UK is to meet its air pollution targets.
Labelling the air pollution problem in the capital a “public health crisis”,
it is believed that vehicles using diesel fuel are the leading cause of air
pollution in London.
FOR SALE
Although steps are being taken to discourage their use, via the
congestion charge and clean air zones, this will not be enough to clear
the air, reports the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Sadiq Khan has already put plans in motion to crackdown on air
pollution: he plans to extend the ultra-low emissions zone, from 2020,
from the congestion charge area to the North and South Circulars for
motorcycles and cars, and London-wide for lorries, buses and coaches.
Khan also plans on hitting polluting diesel vehicles, those registered
before 2005, with an extra £10 toxic air ‘T-charge’.
The capital’s pollution levels break both legal and World Health
Organisation limits, making the IPPR think tank believe that Khan might
have to take further measures and ban diesel cars altogether.
However, phasing out the vehicles would be controversial, as many
people purchased diesel cars in the belief that they were actually more
environmentally friendly than their petrol counterparts. Diesel engines
produce less carbon dioxide than petrol vehicles: however, it generates
nitrogen oxides and small particles, which pollute the air and can cause
breathing difficulties in vulnerable people. All enquiries to:
Polluted air in the capital has caused more than 9,000 premature
deaths a year. enquiries@kenttrailertraining.co.uk
01795 425444
Harry Quilter-Pinner, a researcher at IPPR, told The Guardian: “London
air is both lethal and illegal.
“This is a public health crisis and it should be ignored no longer. Only
bold action will make the capital’s air safe to breathe again.”
Calls for a new Clean Air Act to protect air quality standards were
made by the body amid fears that Brexit could weaken the pressure on
ministers to crack down on pollution, as it would remove the risk of tough
European Union fines.
London is the only area in the UK that is currently forecast to not reach Meet the InstructorcoverPlus team
compliance on air pollution by 2025 or beyond. Here to help you with your ADI Insurance
Quilter-Pinner went on to say: “Indeed, IPPR’s analysis suggests
[Khan] will ultimately need to completely phase out diesel cars and buses
in order to reach legal compliance.
“However, he cannot achieve this alone. National government has so
far shirked its duty on this issue. They must now pitch in to help save
lives.”
Call Sarah, Rachel, Sophie & Jane
on 02920629413
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p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 4 10/08/2016 1:49 pmAlmost two-fifths of UK motorists admit Young drivers
to falling asleep at wheel most likely to
A shocking four out of ten British drivers admit they have fallen asleep at the wheel, aaccording to
be distracted
a new survey.
In a study of more than 1,000 drivers, vehicle-leasing company OSV discovered that 38% said by ‘attractive
pedestrians’
they had either nodded off or fallen asleep while driving. An additional 36% believed they have put
other motorists at danger driving while tired.
Over half the motorists say they ignore official guidance to take a break every two hours on long
journeys, with one in five drivers stating that they carry on even when they know they’re overtired. Young British drivers are the most likely to be
This alarming statistic comes in spite of the fact that a quarter of all crashes that cause death or distracted by “attractive pedestrians” while
serious injury in Britain are tiredness related. behind the wheel, according to new research.
Debbie Kirkley, co-founder of OSV, said: “Tired drivers are a huge danger to not only themselves According to research conducted by Ford,
but other drivers and passengers on the roads. drivers between 18 and 24 in the UK are
“Drivers should never drive whilst overtired and should always plan their journeys carefully to more likely to be distracted by good-looking
include regular rest breaks – a minimum of 15 minutes every two hours.” pedestrians than anywhere else in Europe.
In reality, 81% only stop because they need a toilet break or are hungry: a mere 25% actually Young men are three times more likely
stop because they feel they’re tired. than women to be distracted by looking at
Drivers deal with their tiredness behind the wheel by other means, with more than three-quarters pedestrians, most notably during the summer,
of drivers admit to drinking coffee or water, turning the radio up or eating – solutions that are usually which accounts for 21% of all UK road deaths.
ineffective, states Kirkely. Risky behaviour behind the wheel has been
The study revealed that female drivers were more likely to stop for regular breaks while driving, identified as one of the major causes, with
but were more likely to doze off or fall asleep at the wheel. approximately 62,000 young motorists killed
More men than women believe they have out themselves or others at risk while driving overtired, on European roads between 2004 and 2013.
as men were more likely to drive while overtired. The survey found that two-thirds of young
drivers admit to being more relaxed about their
driving in the summer.
Ford offer free training for young drivers
through its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL)
programme. Jim Graham, DSFL manager,
said: “Too many young adults are dying in
car crashes caused by a combination of
inexperience and poor decision making.”
A similar study was conducted back in
2012 from Direct Line, discovering that
nearly a million crashes in the UK are caused
every year by drivers concentrating on ogling
pedestrians instead of on the road.
The Direct Line survey found that 60% of
men have admitted to being distracted by
attractive women, while only 12% of women
claimed to have been distracted by men.
The survey discovered 21% per cent of
drivers said they’d been distracted by good-
looking models on advertisement boards, with
17% saying they “couldn’t help but look.”
Councils make £550K from parking overpayments
Drivers are being forced to pay more than they them was Peterborough City Council, which feel as though they are being unfairly charged:
should for parking, due to parking machines received £66,774. “Half a million pounds might be small change
not issuing change. A spokesman for Peterborough City Council to councils, but to hard-pressed drivers, every
It has been revealed that councils in the east defended the city, mentioning that alternative penny counts. Many will think they are being
of England are pocketing thousands of pounds, payment methods are available at all of its car made to pay a penalty for doing the right thing
as motorists there paid more than £550,000 parks. They added: “Pay and display machines and buying a ticket.”
extra in 2015. that give change are significantly more Several councils use a “linear tariff” system
The data, obtained through a Freedom of expensive to purchase and maintain. that gives motorists extra hours for any
Information request, showed that almost half “The use of them would mean higher parking additional money they pay into the machines.
of the 26 councils contacted did not reveal a tariffs, and so the council has been able to keep Cambridge City Council and Maldon District
figure, with 21 claiming that they were unable tariffs low and competitive compared to other Council, who adopt this method, say that it is
to provide data. Three others said they did not parking operators in the city.” fairer to customers.
use the pay and display machines. However, the high figure obtained from According to the figures, Cambridge
The Borough of King’s Lynn and West Peterborough did not include overpayments received just £216 in overpayments, while
Norfolk pocketed the most from the payment from two of its car parks. Maldon District Council received none at all.
machines, earning £69,629. Not far behind The RAC said that many motorists would
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p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 6 10/08/2016 1:49 pmDVLA revenue falls £93m since paper tax Learner driver’s
disc scrapped car “flipped” onto
Since the abolition of the paper tax disc, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has seen
its revenue fall by £93m in the last year, figures show.
roof by careless
According to information from the DVLA, revenue from vehicle excise duty (VED) fell from
£6.023bn in 2014/15 to £5.0930bn the year after. motorist
The DVLA said: “As the last tax discs issued expired on 30 September 2015 it is likely that during
the transitional period with customers becoming accustomed to the new tax changed that VED A motorist driving at “quite a speed” crashed
collection was affected. into a learner driver on a lesson, resulting in
“The agency has taken considerable steps to ensure that motorists are aware of the vehicle tax the learner’s car being flipped.
changes and have responded quickly where there have been issues. Rafia Najmi “clipped” the rear offside of the
“The withdrawal of the requirement to display a valid paper tax disc may well have contributed to British School of Motoring (BSM) car as she
the increase in non-compliance seen in the roadside survey, given the correlation of these changes overtook it on Fabian Way, Swansea.
with a worsening of non-compliance rates. Swansea Magistartes Court heard that
“Instances of non-compliance highlighted in the roadside survey include instances of deliberate the BSM overturned and slid down the road
evasion, but also unintentional non-compliance which may have increased as motorists adjust to before coming to a halt, with the pupil and his
the new rules.” instructor freeing themselves from the vehicle.
As a result of increased evasion, the RAC said that it was concerned that losses would continue In her interview with the police, Najmi
to rise in the coming years. It called for roadside survey of unlicensed cars – a year earlier than one allegedly claimed that her Mazda had “pulled”
was due to be taken. to one side and that she had tried to correct
The RAC also stated that there could be other factors affecting the revenue loss, such as the it. She had only owned the car for a matter of
greater number of cheaper-to-tax, low carbon emission cars. days before the incident. Subsequent checks
But the RAC believes losses could continue to rise in the coming years due to the threat of showed the 24-year-old had no insurance.
increased evasion, as the expiry date is no longer visible in the windscreen. Julie Sullivan, prosecuting, said witnesses
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “It is worrying that the reduction in revenue from vehicle reported Najmi had been travelling “quite
tax has exceeded the government’s own estimate. a speed” before drifting from her lane and
“Some may argue that a £93m loss is only £13m higher than expected: this represents an “clipping” the side of the car.
increase of £58m on the corresponding period before the tax disc was abandoned and far exceeds Najmi, from Llanelli, south Wales, pleaded
the £10m savings arising from no longer issuing tax discs.” guilty to driving without due car and attention
However, a DVLA spokeswoman said: “We have introduced direct debit to help customers and to driving without insurance when she
spread the cost of paying for their tax disc, and more than 10m people have taken advantage of appeared before justices.
this, so there is a lag in when we receive the money. The court heard the Mazda had been
“In addition, there are more clean cars on the road paying lower tax.” examined following the crash, and no physical
The DVLA adds: “While it is likely that the transition to new rules will have caused a temporary defects had been found.
peak in non-compliance which will reduce as awareness improves, it is too early as this stage to Najmi was banned from driving for 24
draw a conclusion on whether the changes will result in a long-term increase or decrease in non- months and fined a total of £240. She must
compliance levels, and the level of VED ultimately collected.” also pay £105 in costs and surcharges.
Theresa May promotes Chris
Grayling to Transport Secretary
Conservative MP Chris Grayling has been promoted to Secretary of State for
Transport by Theresa May, BBC Reports.
Grayling, who has been Leader of the House of Commons since 2015, will
oversee Heathrow Expansion and the future of the HS2 rail line.
The vocal Brexiteer, who was Mrs May’s campaign manager in her leadership bid,
remained tight lipped as he left Downing Street.
It comes after it emerged Mrs May had made a personal pledge to the former
Leader of the House of Commons that she intends to honour the momentous
referendum vote by pulling Britain out of the European Union.
Grayling was a staunch campaigner to leave the European Union.
“I got a promise from her [Ms May] that she really meant that Brexit meant Brexit,”
he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
He has some familiarity with his new brief, having been the Conservatives’ shadow
secretary of state for transport from 2005 to 2007 while Labour was in government.
In 2009 the Independent reported that Mr Grayling had privately voiced concern
about the Tories’ opposition to Heathrow expansion.
Mr Grayling, 54, has been MP since 2001 and has held several cabinet and
shadow cabinet positions.
The Epsom and Ewell MP is a Cambridge graduate and worked as a journalist
before entering politics.
14 Driving Instructor
p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 7 10/08/2016 1:49 pmDIA MEMBER BENEFIT
Up to £6000 off when
buying a new car
Big discounts on Suzuki vehicles for DIA members
DIA members can now enjoy up to £6,000 off The range of benefits include • You can use your discount when
when purchasing a new vehicle through Suzuki. purchasing a car for a family member.
As part of our ongoing partnership with Suzuki, • Up to £6,000 off (depending on the Please note that the family member
the DIA is proud to present to our members vehicle model) when purchasing a new must live at the same address and
the opportunity to purchase a wide range of vehicle at a Suzuki dealership, with you will need to bring along a copy of
new Suzuki cars at heavily discounted prices. some vehicles coming with metallic both your driving licence and the family
Not only can you receive up to £6,000 off the paint. member’s driving licence.
initial price of your new vehicle but you can • A further discount of up to £400 when • No minimum membership length. As
also receive discounts on metallic and dual- purchasing your vehicle with metallic long as you are a member of the DIA
tone paint. All you need to do is take your paint or up to £680 when purchasing you will be eligible for these discounts,
membership card and driving licence with you your vehicle with dual-tone paint. regardless of how long you have been
when visiting a Suzuki dealership. a member.
To find out more call us
Terms and conditions
The member qualifies for one new car purchase in a rolling twelve-month period (from date of registration). The car can be
purchased outright or financed through Black Horse Contract Hire or Personal Contract Hire. The entitlement can be utilised
on 020 8686 8010 or visit for members’ own use or a family member who resides at the same home address (vehicle is not for re-sale purpose). This
scheme is not in conjunction with any other Suzuki offer. The car must be retained, with no change of ownership for a minimum
period of 6 months from the date of registration. Purchases from this scheme will be audited, including possible contact with
www.driving.org/suzuki the purchaser; any misuse will result in the immediate withdrawal of the member’s organisation/supplying dealer from the
scheme, which is not intended for profit or trading purposes.
Young drivers in UK most like to be
distracted by ‘attractive pedestrians’
Young British drivers are the most likely to be distracted by “attractive pedestrians” while
behind the wheel, according to new research.
According to research conducted by Ford, drivers between 18 and 24 in the UK are
more likely to be distracted by good looking pedestrians than anywhere else in Europe.
The survey questioned 6,500 young drivers across Europe about the risks they take
behind the wheel.
Young men are three times more likely than women to be distracted by looking at
pedestrians, most notably during the summer time which accounts for 21 per cent of all
road deaths in Britain.
Risky behaviour behind the wheel has been identified as one of the major causes, with
approximately 62,000 young motorists killed on European roads between 2004 and 2013.
The survey found that two thirds of young drivers admit to being more relaxed about their
driving in the summer - which explains why motorists in this age group account for 21 per
cent of road deaths during the summer months. This drops to 15 per cent at other times
of the year.
Ford offer free training for young drivers through its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL)
programme. Jim Graham, DSFL manager, said: “Summer is a great time to enjoy the
freedom of driving, which is as much a part of being young today as it was for previous
generations.
“But too many young adults are dying in car crashes caused by a combination of
inexperience and poor decision making.”
A similar study was conducted back in 2012 from Direct Line, discovering that nearly one
million crashes in the UK are caused every single year by drivers concentrating on ogling
pedestrians instead of on the road.
The Direct Line survey found that 60 per cent of men have admitted to being distracted
by attractive women, while only 12 percent of women claimed to have been distracted by
handsome men.
The survey discovered 21 per cent of drivers said they’d been distracted by good-looking
models on advertisement boards, with 17 per cent saying they “couldn’t help but look.”
p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 8 10/08/2016 1:49 pmMotorists hit by 19% rise in car Free parking
insurance premiums for EV drivers:
Motorists in the UK are facing the biggest annual price hikes in car insurance premiums, seeing a 19%
rise in the past five years.
15,000 new
According to price comparison site Confused.com, prices have risen by £115 over the last 12 months.
Drivers are paying £715 on average for their comprehensive car insurance premium, compared to just
spaces in Milton
£600 this time last year.
Prices rose by a “significant 6%’ from the first quarter of 2016, equating to an additional £44 on Keynes
premiums over the last three months.
Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, believes rising premiums have been caused by Ther’s good news for electric vehicle
insurance companies failing to make a profit. drivers in Milton Keynes as they can
She said: “Insurance companies are still not making a profit according to the Combined Operating now park for free in 15,000 commuter
Ratio that is collated by the industry. and charging spaces.
“The most recent shows that for every £1 that an insurance company takes in premium, their costs are After it was announced recently that
more than £1.01.” EV owners are to pay a fee of £5 for
Every age group has seen a rise in prices, with young drivers less affected. The youngest drivers, a 20-minute charge, thanks to a £40m
17-year-olds, have experienced the smallest yearly increases compared to any other age group. However, worth of government funding, EV drivers
their average premium has broken the £2,000 mark and now sits at £2,013. will soon be able to enjoy perks such as
Females aged 17-20 have also escaped the maximum hikes: however, they’re still facing an annual free parking, extra charging hubs and
price increase of 15%. While it’s still lower than the national average, it still equates to a rise of £223 over access to carpool lanes.
the year, resulting in a current premium of £1,671. This means that there has been a £94 increase over The scheme was launched by
just three months. transport minister Andrew Jones to
Older motorists have experienced the greatest yearly increase in the cost of their cover, for example, increase the uptake of electric vehicles.
drivers aged 61, are now paying an average of £418, 24% more than they were one year ago. Known as Go Ultra City, places such
In Northern Ireland, the cost of car insurance rose 25% annually, with the average premium now as Bristol, London, Nottingham and
standing at £863. In the Scottish Highlands and Islands region, prices rose by 24% over the past year, Milton Keynes are the areas that will be
resulting in Northern Ireland and Scotland seeing the highest rise in prices. focused on.
“We’ve not seen price rises of this magnitude for five years – a 19% annual increase is substantial to Milton Keynes has promised
say the least,” said Stretton. residents of the area free parking.
“And these prices are being felt across the board, for drivers of all ages and genders, across all UK Dubbed the ‘green parking permit’, it
regions. If prices continue to rise at the rate we’ve been seeing, we could be facing the possibility of will enable owners of eligible cars to
average comprehensive premiums breaching the all-time high seen in 2011, when they peaked at £858. leave their vehicle in any one of the
“This, combined with rising fuel prices and increased motoring costs across the board, could result in city’s 15,000 spaces. This includes
a sizeable dent in drivers’ pockets.” drop off bays at railway stations and
short stay shopping bays.
The £9m awarded to Milton Keynes
from the Go Ultra City status will also
help to create an ‘electric vehicle
experience centre’ in the city and open
up bus lanes to electric car drivers.
Andrew Jones said: “It is great to
see the first part of Milton Keynes’ Go
Ultra Low City plan become a reality.
Thanks to the £9m of funding we have
provided, thousands of local residents
will now be able to park their electric
cars for free.
“We are investing £600m in cleaner
vehicles by 2020 to improve air quality,
create jobs and achieve our goal of
every car and van in the UK being zero
emission by 2050.”
Vehicles must produce under 75g/
km of CO2 and be capable of 10 miles
of zero-emission driving.
London on the other hand, was
awarded £13m to create their
‘Neighbourhoods of the Future’
scheme, offering parking and traffic
priority to EV drivers.
Bristol’s carpool lanes will now
become the domain of the alternative
fuel vehicle, while plug-in car leasing
schemes will help raise EV motorists on
the road in the West.
New charging points have also been
sanctioned in Dundee, Nottinghamshire,
Derby Oxford and the North East.
16 Driving Instructor
p08_17_Instructor_Issue07.indd 9 10/08/2016 1:49 pmElectric car owners to pay £5
for a 20-minute charge
Ecotricity, the sole provider of UK motorway EV charging stations, will
start charging drivers a flat £5 rate to charge their car.
The £5 fee will grant electric car drivers a 20-minute charge, which is
expected to recharge half the battery in that time. Ecotricity is the sole
provider of charging stations along the motorway and will introduce 300
rapid-charging stations across the country.
The switch to charging will be manually implemented at all charging
points: work started on 11 July and was expected to be completed by
London Mayor Sadiq Khan Friday 5 August.
A new phone app is expected to be released to replace the current
calls for greater air pollution card system, enabling users to manage their accounts, pay for charging
and check the status of chargers. There will be a “live feed” function
controls
within the app for users to see the location and availability of their closest
charging dock, making it easier for motorists to plan their journeys.
Statements made by Tesla Motors CEO, Elon Musk, suggests that
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has made London’s dirty air one of his main Tesla owners using the company’s own Supercharger network won’t
obstacles to conquer, as plans to tackle the problem with a “toxicity incur the charge, although owners of the soon-to-be-released Model 3
charge” on pollution-heavy vehicles has been announced. will be required to pay in order to access the network.
Khan has set out proposals to charge the most polluting vehicles £10 With nearly 300 Ecotricity Pumps across Britain, the Electric Highway
a day in the centre of the city from 2017 and extend the planned ‘ultra- is the most comprehensive public car-charging network in Europe. This
low emissions zone’ , with charges for dirty cars, vans, coaches and allows electric car drivers to travel the length and breadth of the country,
lorries, to cover more of London. using nothing but renewable energy.
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was initially applied to inner London, Until now, The Electric Highway has been the only public charging
however there are plans to expand from 2020 to the North and South infrastructure in Britain that was completely free of charge. Figures show
Circular for motorcycles, cars and vans, and across the capital for lorries, that it currently powers around 2m miles a month, with nearly 60,000
buses and coaches. electric cars on UK roads, and has powered more than 30m miles since
While visiting Great Ormond Street Hospital on the 60th anniversary 2011.
of the Clean Air Act, Khan declared the issue of pollution a “health The usage has trebled in 2015, reflecting on the success and
emergency”. encouraging uptake of electric cars and perhaps making it become a
He went on to say: “With nearly 10,000 people dying early every year necessary evil to start charging for the service, in order for the network
in London due to exposure to air pollution, cleaning up London’s toxic air to grow.
is now an issue of life and death.” In an e-mail to its users, Ecotricity said: “The combination of more cars
There are also plans expected on encouraging electric cars, on the road and faster charging means we’re now delivering two million
pedestrianising roads such as Oxford Street and tackling pollution from miles of clean driving each month - all powered from the wind and sun.
construction. “That’s a great result. It’s also a growing cost. And to keep pace with
Khan claims that air pollution needs to be tackled nationwide as it demand, we need to build more electricity pumps at existing and new
causes an estimated 40,000 deaths a year across the UK. locations.
The plans will also look at developing a detailed proposal for a “So the time has come for us to charge for charging. We’ve taken a lot
national diesel scrappage scheme, which the government would have of feedback from EV drivers in order to arrive at the right pricing model.
to implement. The idea is to encourage people to get rid of the most We’ve decided that a simple flat fee of a £5 for a 20-minute fast charge
polluting vehicles. strikes the right balance.”
Khan warned that leaving the European Union could strip the public of Ecotricity believes that by 2030 every new car sold will be electric and
the protection of EU clean air standards. that by 2040 electric vehicles will rule the roads.
When speaking at central London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital
for Children, Khan said: “The EU has an established legal framework on
tackling air pollution which has now become part of UK law.
“Without this, it is doubtful the government would have even taken the
limited action they’ve taken so far. On top of this, pollution clearly does
not respect borders and, ultimately, this is a problem we can only solve
with co-ordinated action across cities and counties.
“Clearly the UK leaving the EU could weaken our ability to tackle
air pollution and it could mean the public could end up with less legal
protection over their right to breathe clean air.”
Outside of London, a revamped car tax (Vehicle Excise Duty as it
is officially know) should help push drivers away from CO2-spewing
vehicles, given that only cars that emit zero emissions and cost below
£40,000 will be exempt.
Cars that emit between 1-50g/km of CO2 will be hit with a flat-rate
tax of £140 after a first-year cost of £10. All cars registered after 1 April
2017 will be affected. Two-thirds of motorists are said to be unaware of
the changes.
With air pollution being as serious of a problem as it is, it’ll be welcome
news that the government is trying to address the issue: however, it’s a
little bizarre that they are also hitting some electric cars in the process.
A Tesla Model S owner, for instance, will pay £620 in VED over three
years, even though it emits zero emissions locally.
Driving Instructor 17
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